Latino Veterans Have Always Answered the Call

Opinion for The Latino Newsletter

Whenever I step into a polling booth to cast my vote, a poignant memory surfaces. Years ago, I had the privilege of visiting the Normandy American Cemetery in France. Among the graves, I found the resting place of Joe L. Martinez, from California, who sacrificed his life on June 6, 1944. His selfless act helped liberate Europe from the clutches of fascism and ensured that I could live in a democracy and participate in free and fair elections.

As they say, freedom isn’t free.

On Memorial Day, we express our gratitude for the sacrifices made by countless fellow Americans who have defended our nation. However, in today’s political climate, we cannot forget the invaluable contributions made by Latino service members and veterans. At a time when we have political leaders who have shirked military service, who ridicule disabled veterans, and have said about POWs, “I like people who weren’t captured,” we must remember how patriotic and American our community is, and how Latinos have always answered the call to serve our nation in a time of war and peace.

The military service of Latino Americans is not just a story — it’s an integral part of my heritage. My father, my best friend’s father, and the uncles I’ve never met made significant sacrifices for our country. I hold dear the photographs of my father, Albert Morales, in his Air Force uniform during the Korean War. He served for over seven years and retired as a master sergeant. Every federal holiday, our family proudly displays an American flag.

Others have given more. My friend’s father saw combat during the Vietnam War. Joseph Gonzalez served as a sergeant in the 199th Infantry Division. His tour of duty was from 1969 to 1970, and he was awarded two Bronze Star Medals for heroism under fire.

And still others have made the ultimate sacrifice. My aunt lost her two brothers killed in combat during World War II. The older of the two was Gilbert L. Almada, a 26-year-old private when he lost his life in Okinawa. The other brother was David Lopez Almada, an Air Force staff sergeant who was killed in a bomber over Austria in 1944, the day after his 21st birthday.

My wife’s family also lost an uncle in World War II. David Valdez was 19 and the only male member of the family at the time. On a cold March day in 1944, he boarded a B-24 bomber for his second mission over Hungary and tragically lost his life. He is now buried at the Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium. This year, we plan to visit his grave.

Countless Latino families have similar stories of service and loss in every conflict our nation has faced, and it is a fact that other Americans tend to ignore. I was heartbroken after someone recently yelled at me, “Go back where you came from,” knowing the sacrifice my family has made for this country.

A book that first documented Latino military service is titled Among the Valiant: Mexican-Americans in WWII and Korea (1963) by Raul Morin. It is a firsthand account detailing the heroic contributions and sacrifices of Mexican American soldiers during World War II and the Korean War. Morin, a veteran, documented stories of combat, Medal of Honor recipients, and the fight against discrimination.

There are other great books detailing the service of Latinos, such as Patriots from the Barrio by David Gutierrez. This book chronicles the story of the “Texas” Division that was comprised entirely of Mexican Americans — the only such unit in the entire U.S. Army that fought in Italy.

Puerto Rican veterans have also played a significant, albeit often overlooked, role in the U.S. military. Around 200,000 Puerto Ricans have served in every major conflict from World War I to the present. For those living in Puerto Rico who have served — estimated to be around 90,000 — they face unique disparities in benefits and representation despite their dedication. Nine Puerto Rican soldiers have been awarded the Medal of Honor for valor during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Four of these honors were awarded posthumously by President Obama in 2014.

As we prepare to celebrate Memorial Day and the unofficial start of summer, let us never forget the contributions of the men and women in our community. We cannot allow others to define us when they say, “They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

Whenever ignorant remarks such as these are expressed by bigots, we must remind them that Hispanic men and women have willingly donned the uniforms of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. Remind them that Hispanic veterans make up 8 percent of the total U.S. veteran population in 2023, and that between 2008 and 2023, the number of Hispanic veterans grew from 1.2 million to 1.5 million.

Finally, refer people to the Hispanics in Service project from the Library of Congress. Here you can learn individual stories and take pride in how our community has answered the call to defend the nation.

Mauro Morales is a retired attorney and civil rights leader who spent 25 years in federal service, most recently as Staff Director of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He also served in the Obama Administration, including senior roles at the Office of Personnel Management, and previously worked in private practice and on Capitol Hill.

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Latino Gen Z More Optimistic: A media release about the findings from the Julian Bond Institute for Financial Equity Research’s 2050 Survey noted that Latino Gen Z “are more optimistic about their financial future than white peers, despite earning less and receiving less family financial support.”

Other findings include:

The Latino Newsletter is closed for the Memorial Day weekend and will return on May 26.

Julio Ricardo Varela edited and published this edition of The Latino Newsletter.

The Latino Newsletter welcomes opinion pieces in English and/or Spanish from community voices. Submission guidelines are here. The views expressed by outside opinion contributors do not necessarily reflect the editorial views of this outlet or its employees.